Tuesday, 7 February 2023

 Wendy LOVELL (Northern Victoria) (14:28): It gives me great pleasure to recognise and congratulate the recipients of local Australia Day awards in my electorate, acknowledging the wonderful service of those who work to make their communities great places to live.

I started Australia Day with the Greater Shepparton City Council celebrations in Queens Gardens. I would like to congratulate the overall winner of the Greater Shepparton Citizen of the Year Michael D’Elia, Greater Shepparton Young Citizen of the Year Denni Bathman and Senior Citizen of the Year Kathleen Treacy. In Shepparton Michael D’Elia was also the Shepparton Citizen of the Year, my dear friend Judith Longley was named Senior Citizen of the Year and Young Citizen of the Year was Cassidy Ahmet. I then attended celebrations in Tatura, where John Lowe was named Citizen of the Year and Thelma Wood Senior Citizen of the Year. It was wonderful to then join the Mooroopna community to recognise their award winners: Citizen of the Year Neville Musgrove and senior citizen Kathleen Treacy. I completed the day as always in Nathalia at their twilight ceremony. Congratulations go to Citizen of the Year Mary Wilson. Congratulations to Dookie Citizen of the Year Suzie Hall and Senior Citizen of the Year Joy Sims and to Murchison Citizen of the Year Gordon Newton and young citizen Denni Bathman.

My congratulations also go to all nominees and winners of all local Australia Day awards and also to recipients of Australia Day honours throughout my electorate. In particular I would like to congratulate Judi Hanlon and Ted Davis, who I know personally, who received Order of Australia Medals for their services to our community.